Rotating spout lock joint sleeve

ABSTRACT

An improved rotating spout lock joint sleeve comprised of a spout and a mounting sleeve at its bottom section, which is first inserted into a water supply base, with a lock joint sleeve pre-fitted onto the body of the spout utilized to form a continuum between its bottom section internal threads and the external threads at the top section of the water supply base, the features of which include the following. The opening of the lock joint sleeve is sufficiently enlarged to accommodate the insertion of the mouth at the anterior extremity of the spout, thereby enabling continuity between the bottom section of the spout and the mounting sleeve top edge. A stepped neck is crimped onto the lower section of the mounting sleeve such that when a mounting ring is placed against its lower extent, the mounting ring is at the same time against the bottom edge of the stepped section at the middle section inside the lock joint sleeve, enabling the initial coupling of the lock joint sleeve to the mounting sleeve outer circumference as well as the convenient and rapid fastening to the external threads at the top section of the water supply base. As such, the structure of the present invention provides for the secure assembly of the spout to the mounting sleeve, thereby achieving convenient fabrication, assembly, and installation that averts dislodging and prevents the abrasion of the spout surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

The invention herein relates to an improved rotating spout lock jointsleeve that addresses the fixed installation of the spout to the bottomsection mounting sleeve and in which the opening of the lock jointsleeve is sufficiently enlarged to accommodate the insertion of themouth at the front end of the spout and a stepped neck is crimped ontothe lower section of the mounting sleeve. When a mounting ring is placedagainst its lower extent of the stepped neck, the mounting ring is atthe same time against the bottom edge of the stepped section along themiddle section inside the lock joint sleeve, thereby coupling the lockjoint sleeve to the mounting sleeve outer circumference such thatdislodging and sliding are prevented.

2) Description of the Prior Art

Conventional water faucets that provide for moving the water outputposition typically utilize a rotatable spout, the structure (asindicated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1-A) comprised of a spout 2 and a mountingsleeve 3 at its bottom section, which is first inserted into a watersupply base 9, with a lock joint sleeve 4 pre-fitted onto the body ofthe spout 2 utilized to form a continuum between its bottom sectioninternal threads 41 and the external threads 91 at the top section ofthe water supply base 9, enabling water to flow from the spout 2, whichcan be adjustably turned to control the water output position in aconvenient operation.

However, in the lock joint structure that maintains the spout 2 on thewater supply base 9, since the mouth 21 at the anterior extremity of thespout 2 is equipped with a front-end water filter, the interior of thejoint lock sleeve 4 mouth 42 must be enlarged by machining;additionally, the spout 2 bottom section mounting sleeve 3 outercircumference is larger than the inner circumference of the joint locksleeve 4 mouth 42; as such, the joint lock sleeve 4 cannot be fitted onafter the mounting sleeve 3 is fastened to the spout 2 bottom section;the mounting sleeve 3 and the spout 2 each require surface treatment(such as electroplating) before the joint lock sleeve 4 is fitted ontothe spout 2 body; following which the external threads 22 died along thebottom edge of the spout 2 are fastened to the internal threads 31 ofthe mounting sleeve 3 top section to complete conjoinment, utilizing anoxygen-free adhesive (welding into position is not possible afterelectroplating) to reinforce conjoinment strength; however, theseassembly and installation tasks, in addition to the respective machiningof the mounting sleeve 3 and the spout 2 as well as the inconvenience oftime-consuming electroplating, the spout 2 body must be inserted looselyinto the joint lock sleeve 4, which easily slides and moves duringassembly, installation, or movement, resulting in rubbing and scratchingdamage to surface of the spout 2 body; furthermore, the bondingdurability of the oxygen-free adhesive is adversely affected following acertain period of use and is especially susceptible to heat and moisturewhich easily lowers adhesion strength such that rotating the spout 2causes the utilization drawback of mounting sleeve 3 loosening anddislodging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide an improvedrotating spout lock joint sleeve in which a stepped neck is crimped ontothe lower section of a mounting sleeve such that when a mounting ring isplaced against the lower extent of the stepped neck, the mounting ringis at the same time against the bottom edge of the stepped section atthe middle section inside the lock joint sleeve; as such, the structureof the present invention provides for the secure assembly of the spoutto the mounting sleeve, enabling the lock joint sleeve to be fitted overthe mouth at the front section of the spout and then pushed against themounting rings at the upper extent and lower extent of the mounting ringto complete conjoinment, with the mounting sleeve and the spoutconveniently machined and electroplated after conjoinment to therebyreduce production time and cost for a significant economic advantage,which is among the features of the present invention.

Another objective of the invention herein is to provide an improvedrotating spout lock joint sleeve, wherein the spout and the mountingsleeve are assembled together without reliance on a threaded union, butonly on fitting and welding, following which they both undergo a surfacetreatment (such as electroplating); this procedure not only greatlyshortens the fabrication process, but also eliminates the adverseeffects on the conjoinment of the spout and the mounting sleeveattributed to prolonged usage, heat, or moisture on, thereby ensuringthat the spout cannot be loosened at of dislodged from the mountingsleeve and effectively increasing structural durability, which is alsoamong the features of the present invention.

Yet another objective of the invention herein is to provide an improvedrotating spout lock joint sleeve, wherein a stepped neck is crimped ontothe mounting sleeve lower section such that when a mounting ring isplaced against its lower extent, the mounting ring is at the same timeagainst the bottom edge of the stepped section at the middle sectioninside the lock joint sleeve, thereby coupling the lock joint sleeve tothe outer circumference of the mounting sleeve; or, the external threadsdied on the mounting ring outer circumference are fastened to theinternal threads section along the inner circumference of the lock jointsleeve to couple the lock joint sleeve to the outer circumference of themounting ring; as such, the lock joint sleeve does not cause superficialabrasion or scratch damage when the spout is rotated, therebyeffectively protecting the spout, which is also among the features ofthe present invention.

Still another objective of the invention herein is to provide animproved rotating spout lock joint sleeve, wherein the innercircumference of the mounting rings 8 can be varied to accommodatedifferent specification mounting sleeves and spouts but remainssimilarly capable of the said conjoinment, assembly, and installationobjectives, thereby economically and conveniently achieving a broadscope of application, which is also among the features of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded drawing of the prior art.

FIG. 1-A is a cross-sectional drawing of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an exploded drawing of the invention herein.

FIG. 3 is an isometric drawing of the invention herein.

FIG. 3-A is a cross-sectional drawing of the first structural embodimentof the invention herein.

FIG. 3-B is a cross-sectional drawing of second structural embodiment ofthe invention herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As for the structural embodiments and utilization of the presentinvention, as indicated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 3-A, the inventionherein is comprised of a spout 5 and a mounting sleeve 6 at its bottomsection, which is first inserted into a water supply base 9, with a lockjoint sleeve 7 pre-fitted onto the body of the spout utilized to form acontinuum between its bottom section internal threads 73 and theexternal threads 91 along the top section of the water supply base 9,the features of which are:

The spout 5 and the mounting sleeve 6 are fitted together and welded,completing the preliminary assembly, wherein a stepped neck 61 is nextcrimped onto the mounting sleeve 6 lower section and, as such, when amounting ring 8 is placed against the stepped neck 61, the outercircumference of the mounting ring 8 exceeds the outer circumferenceprotruding from the upper section of the mounting sleeve 6.

Additionally, the lock joint sleeve 7 opening 71 is sufficientlyenlarged to accommodate the insertion of the mouth 51 at the anteriorextremity of the spout 5, enabling the output of water from the mouth 51at the anterior extremity of the spout 5 after the said lock jointsleeve 7 is fastened, thereby establishing continuity between the bottomsection of the spout 5 and the mounting sleeve 6 top edge; a mountingring 8 is situated against the outer circumference protruding from themiddle section of the mounting sleeve 6 and, at the same time, againstthe bottom edge of the stepped section 72 at the middle section insidethe lock joint sleeve 7; as such, the lock joint sleeve 7 is initiallycoupled to the mounting sleeve 6 outer circumference such thatdislodging or forward movement is prevented; and the internal threads 73along the bottom section of the coupled lock joint sleeve 7 are entirelyfastened to the external threads 91 along the top section of the watersupply base 9.

As a result, the said structure achieves convenient fabrication,assembly, and installation in that the conjoinment of the spout 5 to themounting sleeve 6 fully protects against the dislodging of the spout 5,precludes surface abrasion, and other functions.

Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 3-B, an internal threaded section73A is additionally tapped to support the mounting ring 8 inserted andpositioned against the bottom edge of the stepped section 72 at themiddle section inside the lock joint sleeve 7 as well as augment theexternal threads 81 died on the mounting ring 8 outer circumference,enabling the mounting ring 8 to be fully fastened within the innercircumference of the lock joint sleeve 7, thereby effectively couplingthe lock joint sleeve 7 to the outer circumference of the mountingsleeve 6.

1. A rotating spout lock joint sleeve assembly comprising: a spout having a body between a mouth at an anterior extremity and a mounting sleeve attached to a posterior section of the spout, the mounting sleeve being configured to be inserted into a water supply base; a lock joint sleeve pre-fitted onto the body of the spout, the lock joint sleeve being configured to form a continuum between internal threads at a bottom section of the lock joint sleeve and external threads along a top section of the water supply base; a stepped neck attached to a lower section of the mounting sleeve; a mounting ring configured to be positioned against both an outer circumference protruding from a middle section of the mounting sleeve and against a bottom edge of a stepped section inside the lock joint sleeve, wherein an outer circumference of the mounting ring exceeds an outer circumference protruding from an upper section of the mounting sleeve, the lock joint sleeve having an opening large enough to accommodate the insertion of the mouth at the anterior extremity of the spout to enable the output of water from the mouth after the lock joint sleeve is fastened to a top section of the water supply base, wherein the internal threads along the bottom section of the lock joint sleeve are configured to be fastened to the external threads along the top section of the water supply base, wherein the internal threads of the lock joint sleeve are tapped to support the mounting ring, when the mounting ring is inserted and positioned against the bottom edge of the stepped section at the middle section inside the lock joint sleeve, the internal threads of the lock joint sleeve have an internal threaded section threadedly connected to external threads located on the outer circumference of the mounting ring to enable the mounting ring to be fully fastened within an inner circumference of the lock joint sleeve thereby effectively coupling the lock joint sleeve to the outer circumference of the mounting sleeve. 